Madison Little is a twenty-year-old influencer from Toronto, Canada. This young model and life coach travels the world and shoots content for TikTok and Instagram wherever she goes. Social media platforms often get a bad rap for negatively impacting people’s mental outlook, but Little is using these platforms to share her story. She’s reaching out to people who struggle with depression, anxiety, and hopelessness and helping them overcome the root of that pain.
Childhood trauma often has long-lasting effects
Little grew up with an intense fear of public speaking, but somehow, she found the strength to become an influencer on TikTok and Instagram. Each time she turns on her camera, she talks to millions of people from around the world. Her motivation is finding those who relate to her story and reaching across the world wide web to help.
At the age of four, Little looked on as her mother was killed by her father. The years that followed were not easy ones. “I remember telling the story of what happened to my mom in daycare,” she recalls. “The teachers carried me out of the room so that I wouldn’t scare the other children.”
With Little’s mother gone and her father in prison, she and her sister were sent to live with relatives. “Thankfully, we were not put in the foster care system,” remembers Little. “We lived with my grandmother for six months and then with my aunt and uncle.”
Little’s aunt and uncle were in their twenties and did not understand the lasting impact childhood trauma has on young children. They were unable to help as Little reacted to the trauma by lashing out in anger and even violence. “I remember breaking my aunt’s pinky finger,” she says. “I ran away, slammed doors, and hurt people. I was just not a great kid to be around. Not many people are ready to deal with a child who has undergone so much trauma.”
When Little turned 13, she was sent to live with her grandmother. While Little’s grandmother was better able to deal with the outbursts and emotions, the generational gap was always a barrier. “My grandmother could put up with me,” recalls Little. “She dealt with me the way parents dealt with problem kids in the 60s. But she could never understand why I was spending so much time on the ‘Tickety tock’ and ‘snappy chat.'”
Little’s grandmother grew increasingly worried when she saw her spending hours on her phone. “She didn’t understand the value my phone and social media held for me,” explains Little. “She always told me that her kids played outside from dawn to dusk every day.” While Little appreciates nature’s healing power, in this case, the hours Little spent on social media were also a part of her restoration.
Though the memory of her mother’s death still haunts Little, she has found a way to rise above the pain. “Your childhood trauma is something to be worked through,” she says. “You don’t have to let it hold you back forever. Instead, it can push you to be stronger and help others who are going through something similar.”
Becoming an influencer to help others deal with childhood trauma
Despite the challenges, Little made it through high school. “Most of my teachers hated me,” she remembers. “I played rugby and ran track. My coaches loved me because I was a monster on the field despite how I may look.”
Little attempted higher education but dropped out during her first semester. “I knew something in me couldn’t just sit down and study a book,” she explains.
At 18 years old, with 100,000 TikTok followers, Little hopped on a plane and flew to California to start a new life in Los Angeles. “I don’t know how to be an inspiration to this world,” she says, “but if I can learn anywhere, it’s in LA.” To find out more about Little’s story and ongoing mission to help others overcome deep-seated childhood pain, readers can visit her TikTok channel, Instagram feed, and coaching website.
